123-0110 Blandford Cemetery

For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF

VLR Listing Date 04/22/1992

NRHP Listing Date 10/15/1992

NRHP Reference Number 92001371

One of Virginia’s most important historic cemeteries, Blandford reflects the long history of Petersburg and surrounding counties. Centered around the colonial Blandford Church, where burials date from 1702, the cemetery is now the third largest in Virginia after Arlington and Hollywood. Two Virginia governors, a Revolutionary War British general, three Confederate generals, and 30,000 Confederate dead are buried here. Its collection of decorative fences and gates, in both cast and wrought iron, is the finest in the state. Much of the ironwork was produced by unknown artisans, but some can be traced to firms such as Barnes in Richmond, Wickersham in New York, and Wood and Perot in Philadelphia. The gravestones are a collection of sculpture in sandstone, slate, marble, and granite. The wide variety of monuments trace changing attitudes toward death and mourning. Flowers, angels, and lilies are the favorite Victorian symbols here.

Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.

Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark

Updated: July 1, 2021